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Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, or thing. The plural form of a noun is an immediate indicator to a reader that a writer is referring to two or more entities.
Many singular nouns are turned into plural nouns with the addition of a suffix. Other singular nouns have an irregular plural construction.
Learn about plural nouns and how to use them in your writing, then review your content with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker to catch spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors.
Most plural nouns are formed by adding a short suffix (ending) to the singular noun. In most cases, this is -s, -es, or -ies.
Many nouns ending in a consonant are made regular by adding -s to the word’s ending:
Even most singular nouns ending in a vowel (a,e, i,o,u) receive the -s suffix:
Nouns ending in a vowel can be tricky, so it is always a good idea to check with a dictionary if you aren’t sure.
If a noun already ends in -s in its singular form, the plural form will add -es to the end:
Most singular nouns that end in -sh, -ch, or -x also receive the -es suffix in the plural form:
Some singular nouns ending in a consonant + o also receive the -es suffix in the plural:
But be careful of this rule because there are exceptions to this construction. If in doubt, consult a dictionary, or use a grammar checker.
Nouns that end in -y can have one of two endings in the plural form, depending on the letter that immediately precedes the -y.
Words ending in a consonant + y receive a suffix of -ies in the plural form:
Nouns that end in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) + y receive -s as a suffix in the plural:
Some singular nouns need different suffixes to create their plural form. Some of these endings can be memorized, but many may need to be checked in the dictionary to be sure. Some of the common irregular ending changes are:
Many singular nouns are the same in the plural. So, a reader has to consider the context of the word. Some examples of words that are the same in the singular and plural are:
To indicate the plural for these nouns, the rest of the sentence must clarify how many by using words that indicate quantity:
Lastly, some plural nouns look quite a bit different from their singular form:
These plural nouns must be memorized, practiced, or looked up in a dictionary. No one rule applies to them.
When forming the possessive of plural nouns, one fundamental rule helps to eliminate the confusion: first, determine the correct plural form, then make it possessive.
The same rule applies to irregular plural nouns:
When the plural noun is the type that doesn’t change (sheep, scissors, etc.), sometimes it is easier to rewrite a smooth sentence showing possession clearly.
It’s impossible to tell how many scissors or sheep are being written about. If the number matters, a writer needs to spell it out.
When writing with plural nouns, the goal of a writer remains the same: to have clear, concise copy that is engaging for a reader. If a plural or possessive plural noun ever seems to be getting in the way of your message, rewrite or reword to ensure your content is at its best.
Not sure if you’re incorporating plural nouns correctly into your content? Review your grammar, spelling, and punctuation with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.
Then, learn more grammar best practices in our top resources:
